Marie Whall
Research Mentor(s): Kara Larson
Mentor Department: Anthropology; Museum of Anthropological Archaeology
Authors: Marie Whall, Julia McCuaig, Kara Larson
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 114
Abstract
Distinguishing between Ovis aries (sheep) and Capra hircus (goat) has long been a challenge in zooarchaeology due to the near identical skeletal similarities between the two species. Despite numerous past attempts, accurately identifying them remains extremely difficult. However, the advent of ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry), a method that uses peptide mass fingerprinting of collagen for taxonomic identification, has revolutionized the field. This technique has become a reliable tool in archaeological studies for distinguishing organic materials, especially in reconstructing past diets and economic strategies. Understanding the distinction between sheep and goats is crucial, as these animals were managed differently, particularly with respect to their secondary products, which has significant implications for the reconstruction of ancient economies. This project applies ZooMS to sheep and goat mandibles from two archaeologically distinct sites—Early Bronze Age Tell el-Hesi and Medieval Bardha’a—to identify the species and explore potential differences in their economic contexts. These two sites, representing different periods and regions (Tell el-Hesi as an early urban center in the Southern Levant and Bardha’a as a medieval city on the Silk Road), offer contrasting insights into ancient agricultural and provisioning practices. Our preliminary results suggest important differences in the management of livestock at these sites. The implications of these findings could reshape our understanding of early urban economies and farming practices, particularly in relation to how sheep and goats were integrated into distinct foodway structures.
